Upper Eastern Shore Republican Delegate Michael Smigel talks about his amendment to eliminate "good time" credits, which allow those convicted of gun crimes to get out of prison early. Download This File

Republican Delegates Don Dwyer (left) and Michael Smigel discuss the gun control bill prior to the start of tonight's debate. (Photo by WBAL's Robert Lang)

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Vallario speaks against this amendment. Download This File

After nearly six hours of debate, the House of Delegates gave preliminary approval to Governor Martin O'Malley's gun control bill on Tuesday night.

Delegates rejected 20 amendments proposed by opponents to the bill.

Tuesday night's preliminary vote sets up a final debate and vote as early as Wednesday afternoon.

Because this bill was introduced in the Senate, delegates will still be able to propose amendments to the bill before they take their final vote.

The bill is expected to the pass the House of Delegates.

Since a pair of House committees made some changes to the bill last week, the House and Senate will have to work out their differences.

One Senate source told WBAL News that senators are likely to accept the changes the House made to the bill, but it is possible a House-Senate conference committee will have to be formed to work out a compromise.

The main parts of the legislation are still in the bill passed by the Senate more than a month ago.

They include a requirement for handgun owners to submit fingerprints to the state police to get a license and limiting magazine rounds to 10 bullets. An assault weapons ban also is in the bill.

The House panels added some changes.

One of them would require someone to report a gun that is lost or stolen within 72 hours.

Another amendment changed the cost of the handgun license.

The House amendment sets the cost at $50. The Senate approved a $25 fee.

Among the amendments that were rejected Tuesday night, one that would eliminate the practice of letting those convicted of violent gun crimes from having their prison sentences reduced for behaving themselves while behind bars.

The amendment was sponsored by Upper Eastern Shore Republican Delegate Michael Smigel said it would keep violent gun offenders behind bars, and would make the state safer.

However, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Vallario argued against the bill, noting these credits help prison officials keep inmates in order. Vallario argues the credits give inmates incentive to behave behind bars. He also says by law, anyone who commits a crime with a gun must serve at least five years in prison.

After over an hour of debate, the amendment was defeated 83-53.

Delegates also rejected amendments that would have eliminated the licensing requirement, taken the AR-15 off of the banned weapons list, and would have increased the limit on magazine clips from 10 to 20 rounds.